AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 248, 19 October 1928, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

EMBASSY THEATRE.

Conrad Nagel and Myrna Loy co-star in "The Girl From Chicago," the Warner Brothers' melodrama, which is now Hping screened at the Embassy Theatre. Ray Enright directed this underworld master* piece, which was adapted' from "Busmen is Best," by Arthur Somers Roche. The subject is the spectacular career of a southern girl who comes to Chicago to free her brother from the clut-ch of an underworld gang, who have brought about his sentence to death. Thrilling and absorbing, but with that mixture of humour and human kindness without which any play is not complete, "The Girl From Chicago" should meet with unusual success. That old favourite, William Russell, is in the cast. Accompanying the film there will be "Riders of the Dark," Tim McCoys latest Western vehicle. There is plenty of fast-moving action in this film, and just the right amount of humour has been added to make the plot the more interesting. The remance is supplied by McCoy and Dorothy Dwan, while the villainy is in the capable hands of that arch-schemer, Roy D'Arcy. Rex Lease, Frank Currier and Bert Roach are also in the cast. Entertaining ports are screened.

HIPPODROME AND EMPRESS. "The Cowboy Kid," viuch is now beint screened as the headline attraction at the New Hippodrome ana Empress Theatres is another Western vehiclg for Fox Film*.' new star, Re* Bell. The story is a novel one; it deak with a young ranch owner who is in love with a voice he has heard over the radio. "The Ghost Train," a British screen version of Arnold Ridley's successful stage mystery, which was produced in Auckland about a year ago, is the accompanying attraction. Although the rain and wind effects are not reproduced in the picture version, the story is made just as exciting by the camera effects which have been introduced. Guy Neirall heads the cast. PLAZA AND TIVOLI. Lloyd Hughes once more appears in Western costume in '""Three Ring Mar* riage," in which he is featured with" Mary Astor, and which is, now being screened at the Plaza and Tivoli Theatre*. "Three Ring Marriage" is a genuine circus story and tells of a girl who followed the boy she loved, and to be with, him joined the circus show. Performer*, side-show freaks and "barks*" up an important part of the cast and to obtain the correct atmosphere, a whole travelling show was commandeered and many of the scenes shot on it 6 location. Alice White, First National's latest flapper star, and Tola DAvril are aim in tne cast. "The Shield of Honour" is the second attraction at both theatres. This is a Universal production starring Neil Hamilton, aid is the story of a boy who solves the mystery surrounding a series of baffling thefts from a jeweller's store. Dorothy Gulliver plays the principal feminine characterisation, while others in the cast are Thelma Todd, Xigd Barrie and Ralph Lewis. The supports at both theatres are in keeping with ths entertaining big pictures. REGENT THEATRE. A magnificent stage presentation is "Cairo Nights," which is a feature of th* new programme at the Regent Theatre. Oriental dancing and whirlwind Arabian acrobatics are seen against a background essentially Eastern, with its gorgeous colouring and atmosphere. Brilliant lighting enhances the beauty of the presentation, while special music by the Operatic Orchestra, under Mr. Maurice Guttridge, completes its enjoyment. Excellent incidental music is also provided by tha orchestra and an entr'acte is played. Mr* Guttridge also playp selections on the Wurlitzer organ. On the picture side of the entertainment, "the headline attraction is "Half a Bride," a Paramount pro duction, which brings beautiful Esther Ralston and Gary C-ooper, who played the title role of "Beau Sabreur," together again. "Half a Bride" k the story of • wilful girl who is brought to her senses only when she finds herself on a lonely island with the man she hates most. MAJESTIC THEATRE.

A glimpse into the "invisible city" that exists in every metropolis, that strange manifestation of social life known as "the underworld," is afforded in Lon Chaney'# latest contribution to the screen, "Tfca Big City,*' which opened at the Majestio Theatre to-day. Chaney gives a master* Jul demonstration of his many-sided vcT" satility; he play 6 the role of a detective of modern times in a compelling char* acterisation. The story, essentially 4 love 6iory, teems with thrills and mystery. Chaney and his associates into conflict with a gang of jewel thiev«; a sensational hold-up in a fashionable night club and gun battles and duels t£ wits between detectives and gangsters are all colourful backgrounds for a charming love idyll of a boy and a girl, parte played by James Murray and Marceline Day. The supports include a Majestic News, a scenic and a laughable short comedy, while an enjoyable musical score is rendered by Mr. John Whiteford Waugh's Majestic Orchestra, the interlude being "In a Persian Market." EVERYBODY'S THEATRE.

One of the old institutions of the American negro race is the so-called "revival meeting. ' It is said to be a traditio® that has descended from ancient tribel customs. Those who have never bees privileged to see such an exhibition of negro religious fervour based upon the mysticism and psychology of ancient savage tribes will find such a scene truth* rully enacted in "Uncle Tom's Cabin,*' the Universal super-picturisa.tion of the famous Harriet Beecher Stowe novel, theft is attracting tremendous interest at the Everybody's Theatre, where it is now. being screened for an extended season. During the "shooting" of the scene the negro extras became so engrossed in their acting that they continued more than aa hour after the director had called a halt. In the all-star cast are Margarita Fischer, Arthur Edmund Carew, John Roche, Gertrude A&tor. Lucien Littlefield, George Siegmann, Mona Ray, Virginia Grey, Eulalie Jensen, J. Gordon Russeli, Aileeu Manning, Jack Mower, Vivien Oakland and others. The film is accompanied by; a fine atmospheric prologue.

LYRIC THEATRE. "The Girl From Chicago" and "Ride* of the Dark" are the two features of the current programme at the Lyric Theatre. Conrad Na?el and Myrna Lov are the two teatured_ players in "The Girl From Chicago,'' which is a story of a girl who went to the big city to rescue her brother, the victim of gangsters, who had brouzht about his sentence to death. XVilHant Ru»ell is in the cast. Tim McCov heads the cast of -Riders of the Dark," s thrilling Western story. Roy D'Arcy is again seen in a villainous ro£. while the leading feminine character:sit:on is piayed by Dorothy Divan. Good supports are also shown. VAUDEVILLE AT ST. JAMES'.

Light entertainment is provided by the hirhgigs'' revue company at Si. James_ Theatre. Those two old favour* ites. Nat Phillips and Roy Rene, aie seen again in their old parts of Stiffy and Mo, and they are supported by a company of clever artists, who are as versatile as they are popular. A feature of the current programme, which will run until next Monday, is the performance of ths Charleston Symphony Six, an enjovablc jazz band that attempts not only modern foxtrot hits, but also selections from some of the old masters.